Comelec sets election calendar towards May 2016 polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the calendar of activities for the May 9, 2016 national and local elections.

Through Comelec Resolution No. 9981, promulgated on August 18, the poll body scheduled the election period from January 10 to June 8, 2016.

The holding of political conventions by political parties to select and nominate official candidates for all elective positions is set on September 12 to 30, 2015.

The filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for all elective positions is scheduled for Oct. 12 to 16, 2015.

In a related development, Comelec Resolution No. 9984 instructs prospective candidates for president, vice president and senators to file their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) at the Comelec Law Department in Manila, while those who will run for congressmen in Metro Manila shall do so at the Comelec – National Capital Region also in Manila.

Candidates for congressmen in the provinces as well as provincial officials shall file their COCs at the concerned office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (PES).

Similarly, those running for congressmen in independent cities, cities and municipalities shall file their COCs at their respective office of the city/municipal election officers (EOs).

Those running for the ARMM governor and vice governor will submit their COCs at the office of the ARMM Regional Director, while those for ARMM assemblymen will file theirs at the concerned PES.

“The COC shall be filed by the aspirant or through a duly-authorized representative with a sworn and signed Authority to File the COC,” said Comelec Resolution No. 9984.

“No COC shall be filed by mail, electronic mail, or facsimile shall be accepted”.

The Resolution added that the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) of political parties should be submitted with the COCs of their nominated candidates or else risk their candidates being declared as ïndependent.

As for party-list organizations, the Comelec said the names of their nominees should be filed at the Law Department from October 12 to 16, 2015.

The Certificate of Nomination (CON) of party-list nominees should also be accompanied by the Certificate of Acceptance (COA), said the Comelec.

The poll body also stressed that appointive officials who would file COCs and CONs would be immediately considered as resigned and must vacate their posts on the same day.

“Any person holding a public appointive position, including active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other officers and employees in government-owned and -controlled corporation, shall be considered ipso facto resigned from the office and must vacate the same at the start of the day of the of Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance,” said the resolution.

On the other hand, elected officials will not be deemed resigned from their posts despite filing their COCs.

The campaign period for candidates for president, vice president, senator and party-list representatives is scheduled for Februay 9 to May 7, 2016. On the other hand, the campaign period for candidates for members of the House of Representatives, and elective regional, provincial, city, municipal officials is slated on March 25 to May 7, 2016.

Filipino overseas workers may cast their votes from April 9 to May 9, 2016.

The Comelec scheduled the local absentee voting on April 27, 28 and 29, 2016.

Candidates should file their sworn Statements of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) 30 days after the May 9, 2016 elections. The last day to file SOCE is on June 8, 2016.

The Comelec resolution also listed down prohibited acts during the election and campaign periods, on election eve, and on election day.

The poll body also scheduled other election-related activities as well, like the period to constitute the members of the Board of Election Tellers (BET), and the periods for the filing of petitions for inclusion and exclusion of voters.

More than 18,000 seats will be up for grabs in the May 9, 2016 polls, according to Comelec.

According to Comelec Resolution No. 9982, there are a total of 18,069 posts to be contested, including one president and one vice president.

Aside from the top two posts, set to be contested are seats for 12 senators; 58 party-list representatives; 235 district congressmen; 81 governors; 81 vice governors; 772 members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan; 144 city mayors; 144 city vice mayors; 1,610 city councilors; 1,490 municipal mayors; 1,490 municipal vice mayors; 11,924 municipal councilors; one ARMM governor; ARMM vice governor; and 24 ARMM assemblymen. Tina G. Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer